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Super Bowl Champ Corey Clement Interview

Corey Clement Tackling the World

By: Aaron Royce

Upon graduating from college, most people don’t pursue their childhood passions. This isn’t the case for Corey Clement, the 24-year old running back who’s skyrocketed to fame since his Superbowl LII win as an undrafted free agent. To win one of the world’s largest sporting events at such a young age-and for the Philadelphia Eagles, no less-is a remarkable feat. And with a strong musical career emerging as he enters his next season, it’s clear he’s just getting started.

Clement’s interest in football began when he was in high school, originally pursuing basketball. “I was slowly introduced to football, and the contact nature of the game felt more at ease,” he recalls, citing advice given to him in his sophomore year. “One trainer said if I wanted to seriously play football, I couldn’t jump from sport to sport. I weighed my options and loved football; football was always a love of my life.”

After gaining numerous college scholarships, Clement continued to pursue football and fulfill his dream career in the NFL. “Part of my challenge was to show people on a different level that I could play,” he says of the challenges faced by expanding his sports interests into a full-fledged career. “When I played the Superbowl, I just realized it was another football game we were playing, even though it’s the highest pinnacle of the NFL. As a rookie, I was thinking that this is my moment, and the team’s moment, to give back and be a part of history.”

That football game changed his life. “I was in complete shock. I learned that so many NFL veterans and star players have never had the chance to reach that biggest game, so it was an honor,” Clement says. “I’m so thankful and fortunate to have the organization and players that got that job done. I never took it for granted.”

Since that win, Clement’s life has become more at ease with fame, and more comfortable with the athletic system. “I’ve gained more self-recognition and am more at ease with the system, and knowing how a season should go,” he says of his expanding football knowledge, additionally citing social media as a platform he can use to inspire others and himself. “Personally, I gained more attention-especially on platforms like Instagram. That’s definitely been helpful with making something of myself, and I have to use that for a big-time moment. It allows me to speak to a lot of people by putting myself out there, and to show people they can achieve a better life.”

In addition to being a pro athlete, Clement has recently encompassed the titles of singer, producer, and songwriter. After being raised in a musical family, his interest in music has taken flight and grown since he’s gained the means to produce and the time to perfect his craft. “I do a lot of songwriting and music production, and have a brother who does music; I just have a knack for it,” says Clement, who took his music more seriously once he could buy equipment to make higher quality sounds. “As far as it comes to making beats, I pride myself on not basing my music on other people’s styles.”

That versatility is one of his strong suits to individuality, as Clement’s inspirations and music span different genres. “I’m definitely involved in hip-hop and R&B, but I have appreciation for all genres,” he says, citing Motley Crue, Drake, and the Weeknd as sources of inspiration and learning. “Motley Crue was a band I never got the chance to dive into, but with that rock aspect and 80’s punk style, you gain so much knowledge about what avenues people want to hear and aren’t just in one lane. I also love Drake and the Weeknd’s styles, since they give out great vibes that people want to listen to and relate to. It’s all about finding things that people can relate to and connecting to a wider audience.”

Musically, those inspirations have also taught Clement the value of maximizing his opportunity to create. “From a musical aspect, for example, Drake knows he can help out underground artists and just has this personality that he gives off-he cares about the image and vibes he gives off,” he says. “I’m finding out how to maximize my opportunities with my brand, image and music at the same time.”

Personally, Clement’s biggest inspiration comes, like his musical background, from family. “My mom is definitely my biggest inspiration,” he says. “We didn’t have everything in life that we always wanted and had complications, like every family does, but she never gave up. If she had to do smaller jobs just to get food on the table, or just whatever dollars she could make, she didn’t see that as affecting her.”

Always a multi-tasker, Clement isn’t worried about balancing his growing musical career with his established athletic one. “Music is a stress reliever and opens up your mind to different ideas; everyone has something to share, and for me that’s my music,” he says, as he works on musical projects during his off-season and free time in-season to prioritize football. “During the season I’m heavily involved, and if we have a long season where I can sit down and work on music, I’ll do that. I’ve found I’m at a point where I don’t want it to look like a distraction, and I’ve had plenty of conversations with family and friends that understand my point of view and that consideration.”

As Clement’s creative outlet grows, he’s looking forward to the future of sharing his music and upcoming projects. “I’ll probably put out a single this summer, and definitely an album or EP next year,” he says, desiring to perfect his songs and artistry before releasing them. “I’ll definitely have clips on Instagram to keep fans involved and give them something in the near future. I have a lot of work saved up, and it’s a matter of when I want to share my art; I know it’s good enough to gain views and attention, but I’m waiting to find myself more and give my side of the story.”

Since entering the NFL, Clement has become a role model for aspiring athletes, like many star players before him. His biggest takeaways are to remain patient and utilize available resources. “Regardless of the draft or position, always be patient and be grateful for opportunity,” he says. “Once your foot’s in the door, it’s up to you; they give you every tool and resource to put yourself in the best possible situation. Sit back, relax, and don’t overthink it. At the end of the day, it’s football, and when you make it bigger than what it is it becomes stressful-and when you stress, your production won’t truly show.”

Long-term, Clement anticipates a multi-faceted career. “Right now I’m an NFL athlete, and that maximizes my athletic ability my increasing role,” he says, as he works to improve his training and IQ in the present and prepare to expand his brand in the future. “As the years go on, it doesn’t get easier; guys will figure out your playing style, so you’ve always got to have a leg up on your opponents. Afterwards, I want my image to take me to a different element in life, whether that’s music, modelling, or acting. I want to be a positive brand for the world, and when I get the time to spread my wings a bit more, I can.”

Clement’s creative spirit and positive viewpoints are keys to his success, and what define his idea of ‘cool.’ “From the outside looking in, I’m never in a negative mood-I’m all about positive vibes and a positive attitude,” Clement says. “You can never corner me to one passion or dimension, and I’m always thinking about the next idea to make this world jump. When you look at Corey Clement, you see a guy you’ll want on your team-not one you’ll second guess.”

That outlook also extends to America, which champions diversity in his eyes. “We have so many diverse things, from the people to the music, from culture to clothing,” Clement says. “From that diversity alone, that so many people have, we’re always striving for that next thing. When you have so many ideas, you want to be a part of it, and that’s what makes America cool.”